Method of treating tobacco and improved tobacco product



Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frederick H. Penn, Dallas, Tex.

No Drawing. Application April 1, 1936, Serial 8 Claims.

My invention relates to the treatment of tobacco and to the product resulting from the treatment, this application being a continuationin-part of my earlier application Serial No. 742,320, filed August 31, 1934.

An object of the invention is to improve the smoking qualities of tobacco, particularly the flavor and taste thereof. The invention is of special utility in the treatment of cigarette tobacco, inasmuch as cigarettes generally have a flat, bland taste.

According to the invention, there is incorporated into the tobacco an alcohol capable of imparting desirable flavor and taste to the tobacco and which is substantially non-volatile under ordinary conditions. More specifically, the material with which the tobacco is treated comprises a suitably flavored higher member of the aliphatic alcohol series which does not evaporate appreciably below approximately 105 F. Alcohols of lower evaporation point, such as ethyl alcohol, are not suitable since, because of their ready volatility, they cannot be permanently retained in the tobacco from the time of treatment to the time of use. Many of the alcohols of suitable evaporation point cannot be used because they do not possess the proper flavor and taste.

After considerable experimentation to produce a permanently alcoholized tobacco, I have found that, of the higher aliphatic alcohols, amyl alcohol is the most suitable for the present purposes. A properly treated'amyl alcohol tobacco has a whiskey or cocktail taste when smoked, for example, in the form of a cigarette. The tobacco may also be treated with fusel oil which contains amyl alcohols. Of the known amyl alcohols, I find the normal primary amyl alcohol, which does not evaporate to any substantial extent at temperatures below 105 F., to be the most suitable since it possesses the proper flavor and is not too readily volatilized.

The usual alcoholic products, such as ethyl alcohol, whiskey, wine, brandy, rum, etc. are not adaptable for the treatment of tobacco according to the present invention since they have very low evaporation points and, upon evaporation, leave the tobacco in a dry condition and are not suitable for flavoring purposes. Amyl alcohol, on the other hand, has a tendency to keep the tobacco in a soft condition, it does not evaporate very easily and, in addition, it possesses the desirable taste and flavor. For proper results, the amyl alcohol should be added in the proportion of from to 1 0. c. to 20 grams of tobacco.

As an illustrative example of the production of the alcoholized tobacco, the shredded or cut tobacco, for smoking, chewing or snuff purposes, may be treated with normal primary amyl alcohol in the proportion of l c. c. of the amyl alcohol to 20 grams of tobacco. This is best accomplished by spraying the tobacco with thealcohol in any suitable mixing or tumbling machine. The treated tobacco is then preferably kept in a closed container for a period of twenty-four to forty-eight hours to permit the alcohol to be thoroughly absorbed into the tobacco. The alcohol-impregnated tobacco is now ready for packaging, manufacture of cigarettes, etc.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of improving tobacco which comprises incorporating thereinto an amyl alcoholic liquid which does not evaporate appreciably below 105 F.

2. The method of improving tobacco which comprises incorporating thereinto a normal primary amyl alcoholic liquid which does not evaporate appreciably below 105 F.

3. As an article of manufacture, tobacco having incorporated therein an amyl alcoholic liquid which does not evaporate appreciably below 105 F.

4. As an article of manufacture, tobacco having incorporated therein a normal primary amyl alcoholic liquid which does not evaporate appreciably below 105 F.

5. The method of improving tobacco which comprises incorporating thereinto an amyl alcoholic liquid which does not evaporate appreciably below 105 F. in the proportion of between V; and 1 0. c. to 20 grams of the tobacco.

6. The method of improving tobacco which comprises incorporating thereto a normal primary amyl alcoholic liquid which does not evaporate appreciably below 105 F. in the proportion of between and 1 /2 0. c. to 20 grams of the tobacco.

'7. As an article of manufacture, tobacco having incorporated therein, in the amount of from to 1 c. 0. per 20 grams of tobacco, an amyl alcoholic liquid which does not evaporate appreciably below 105 F.

8. As an article of manufacture, tobacco having incorporated therein, in the amount of from to 1 c. e. per 20 grams of the tobacco, a normal primary amyl alcoholic liquid which does not evaporate appreciably below 105 F.

FREDERICK H. PENN. 

